Nurse too rough?

We've had a nurse for the past week who treats my LO very roughly. I'm wondering if I should say something. I cringe everytime she handles him. His head flops around because she doesn't give it proper support and she whacks him so hard on his back when she's burping him it seems like she is going to break his spine. I don't know... maybe they can take it? My husband was worried last night that she was going to hurt him. When it comes time for breastfeeding, she always scratches his head and pokes him in the ribs to keep him awake. I wish she would just get reassigned to another pod already! What should I do?

Comments (14)

if you don't feel comfortable with it ask for her to not be assigned to your baby. I was always amazed at how easily they handled Brady when she was in the hospital. I wasn't worried b/c I figured they knew what they were doing and one was never rougher than the next, but they definitely didn't hold back when it came to burping. They all consistantly beat her pretty hard. I thought they were going to break her, but boy were they better at getting burps than i ever was :P

I do think our babies are a little tougher than we tend to think. They are very fragile looking but obviously they can take a lot. look at what they have to go through just to live.

But like I said, if you aren't comfortable you can always ask to never have her care for your son again, and it seems like in your case that would be the best thing to do. The NICU is not a great place to be so why make it harder on yourself.

I agree with Nikkie! There is this nurse in our NICU that is the primary for the kid next to us in our pod and she handles him pretty rough. My DH gets so freaked out when he watches her burb him and move him all around...but the funny thing is it doesn't even phase the kid. I think like Nikkie said we tend to think they are more fragile then they are. Plus that nurse has been there for over 30years so I think she is just so used to everything she does it so quick my husband is just used to the slow pace nurses that had to be careful when she was smaller.

Like Nikkie said if you don't feel comfortable with that nurse then let them know. I've learned the NICU is NO place to be shy about your feelings. You HAVE to be your babies advocate if you feel a certain way!

I would definately request her to not be with your baby. If she makes you feel uncomfortable then it's not right. The poking in the ribs thing really gets me . . . that doesn't seem right at all. I would be pretty hot about that. Good luck!!!

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*Leslie*

Corbyn - 2-18-09 born at 30 weeks at 1lb 10oz & 13" due to reverse flow and IUGR. Dreams do come true!!web.me.com/michael.farris

I would say something. I wish I would have when we had a nurse that put a syringe with medication in her mouth! Eww!! I was so tired because we had been rooming with our baby for so long and I wanted to go home that I didn't. She also lied to us. If I knew her name I would call and complain.

I am in the same boat with our nurse in the nicu.. I hate saying something b/c I think she could be rougher with him when we arent there or something.

my son is on a 3 hour feeding/care schedule- and the last two days I have went in to visit him he has had a poop diaper- and I think the nurse is letting him sit in it until the 3 hour care time comes up. It is bugging me so bad- I wish I could be up there 24/7, but we have 2 other kids at home. I am just sitting here crying, I am not sure what to do:(

We observed one nurse we didn't like how she was doing things, thing she would SAY to the babies, etc. Nothing to report on that she was doing bad, but just not a good feeling at all. Dh and I asked to speak to the head nurse and requested that she never be assigned to our baby. It was as easy as that. No one but the head nurse knew, we told her it wasn't necessarily anything wrong, but more a personality conflict type thing, and that was that. We were there at least a few more weeks, without issue.

Our thought on NOT saying something was we didn't want her assigned to our baby when we weren't around! We could usually only go a few hours every other day, which was hard enough, but I can't imagine if I'd called in and she answered, how I would have felt.

Definately say something. I was in tears in the NICU with a night nurse who I felt was just overly critical of Isaac and his eating. Luckily my good nurse was on the next morning and I talked to. She did say that I was my baby's advocate and they aren't here to take of my kid, I am. So we asked she not be in charge of him again.

I would say something -- I know it's totally awkward, and the LAST thing a parent should have to deal with, BUT like the pp's said -- trust your gut. This is your baby, and if you feel he's being handled too roughly, then he is.

As a previous poster stated..Honestly just request to speak to Head Nurse or the Nurse Manager for the unit..Advise of your concerns and request that you get reassigned another nurse..Whether that nurse is right or wrong..she makes you nervous and yes the Nurses are there to do a job but..you are also your childs voice at this point..Not to mention the hospital gets LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of money caring for your little one..I don't think we would allow our pets to be boarded somewhere if we didn't like how they were handled..Let alone a Nurse..Don't get me wrong she is probably not doing him any harm at all but..If it stresses you and DH out then it is unneeded anxiety and WHAT IF is worse then "Please don't assign that nurse to my baby anymore" Goodluck I know it is not a easy journey

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*Allison* happily married Mom of DD Lulu(26 weeker) 3 yrs old and DS Isaiah born 11/20/09 so blessed to finally have my termie